THE DECOMPOSITION AND LINKAGE OF DESIGN METHODS AND PROBLEMS

Abstract

Academic design methods appear not to adapt to industrial design activities. Methods originating in industry are naturally adapted to the problem but their completeness and reliability are questionable. In this paper the way methods originating in industry are linked to design problems is analysed by the study of seven successful solution developments in industry. The definition of a method comprising alternative sub-methods and the conditions in which they are useful increases the flexibility of the method to adapt to different design situations. Fundamental characteristics of problem conditions that define the usability conditions of methods and sub-methods are presented.